Harry Redknapp has urged Fabio Capello to recall Ledley King to the England squad despite the acrimony surrounding the Tottenham defender's selection last week.

The Spurs manager was angry that King — whose chronic knee problems mean he can play only one game a week — was chosen for the two international matches against Slovakia and Ukraine.

The defender was sent back to Spurs immediately due to his knee trouble and the episode then descended into a public row between Redknapp and Capello, but the Spurs boss said: “All we said was that if Ledley played on the Saturday, he wouldn't be able to play on the Wednesday. Our medical people spoke to the England medical people. The row was a load of stuff blown up out of nothing.

“No-one has more respect for Fabio Capello than I do. He will be a great manager for England. I would love to see Ledley play some of the games, and he would be well worth taking to South Africa. If you had a semi-final to play, you couldn't pick a better man.”